Mukherjee said India is fully cognisant of the important role Singapore has played in reconnecting India to South East Asia and beyond.

He said India places high value on people-to-people contacts and looks forward to closer bilateral and regional cooperation, a Rashtrapati Bhavan press release quoted the President as saying.

The President congratulated Justice Menon for receiving the prestigious International Jurists Award 2013.

Mukherjee stated that India and Singapore have similar legal systems modelled on English common law.

Justice Menon was accompanied by Karen Tan, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, C L Ruala, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Vice President of Indian Council of Jurists and Dr Adish C Aggarwala, President of International Council of Jurists.